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bfrance99's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This has been a long anticipated read of mine, and it did live up to its expectations, although it didn’t completely blow me away. It has set up the world and the characters very well for the second and third books, which I’m super excited to read. Kell and Lila (especially Lila) were great main characters to root for, and I really hope we get more on both of their backstories. The plot in this first book was a bit predictable and my interest was diverted in places, which is why I can’t give more than four stars, but the writing and the world was great.
caolan_tale's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The characters were enjoyable and the dialogue was entertaining. There were some moments where there was a bit too much tell without show for me and i would have like some more exploration of the world but other than these instances I highly recommend giving this book a go.
booktallie's review against another edition
4.0
Victoria Schwab does it again in her beautiful creation of A Darker Shade of Magic. Schwab has such a wonderful talent for creating worlds, and there is no exception when it comes to this story as well. From the smoked filled streets of Grey London to the vivid rich magical filled Red London and on to the the ash, cold, painful filled White London, Schwab constructs a place of vivid detail in this book.
Three different Londons. There were four once. The doors between them were open...that's it, until Black London crumbled on itself, and the magic destroyed the city like a plague. Because of that Red London sealed the doors, leaving White London to fight the magic on its own.Now only the Antari, can move between these worlds, by opening portals using their own blood.
Kell is an Antari, one of only two, and he moves through the worlds as he works for the royal family in Red London. That's until he stumbles upon something and someone. Something that might be connected to Black London and someone just happens to be Delilah Bard, a thief, a Grey lander, and someone that has her own agenda. Together the are forced to team up to fight their was to black London and destroy this something but will White London and its twin Royals and the other Antari let them.
In combination with morally ambiguous characters, downright epic world-building and a thrilling plot this quest of fighting through each world to destroy an object from Black London produces a mind-blowing experience. The plot progressed rather slowly at first, not that I minded, but as soon as the point of no return was reached the pace of the plot had my mind reeling at times. Great and terrible and heart-wrenching things happened, this book did certainly not lack bloodshed and violence. In fact there was a lot of it and in that sense it was more than just adult.
The author somehow managed to create three completely unique and unmistakable cities that had very different atmospheres and histories and solutions for the problems that the magic brought upon them. Grey London, with no magic at all, was the one that came closest to the real world that we are living in. Red London, the one where people can and do wield different kinds of magic and where our protagonist Kell is from, was a mesmerizing place. It was a colorful and seemed the shine with a light of its own. White London, where magic is used like a weapon and weapon only, had an ominous feeling about it. Despite the seemingly innocent color it was the London that frightened me out most. Its inhabitants committed odious crimes in order to survive, in order to keep the magic and the power. And then there was Black London, a city out of dark fairy tales to frighten children at night, consumed by magic, unearthly and dark.
And what blew my mind even more was how well Kell fit in. He was able to adapt to every single city he found himself in. There was a strange calm about this character, yet he managed to be fierce and unyielding, everything put into one. He was an insightful protagonist, and his inner growth and development thorough the book was help show how the plot was truly developing.
However the cross-dressing, aspiring pirate named Lila Bard was even better. What I loved most about her was how independent and strong she was in every sense that was right, a well and truly strong female lead. From the very beginning Lila was full of surprises and thankfully she was as far from damsel-in-distress and never having to be saved by a male. Besides, she had the best lines and all humor that there could be found came from her. Lila was badass and in her thirst for adventure she was willed to do a lot, if not everything, only to get what she wants. Both Kell and Lila were imperfectly perfect protagonists and albeit their alliance started out rather shaky and distrustful, it soon developed into something akin to companionship or maybe even friendship. No love-triangle, no romance.
The villains were insane, ruthless, and sinister. Cunning and brilliant. It does not happen very often that characters freak me out, but in this case I shuddered every time Holland or the Dane twins appeared. Holland was in a way much worse than the twins, they were openly evil while Holland felt like hollow-evil, somebody ready to do well and truly everything in order to get what he wants. White London literally screamed at me - mental instability but the twins took insanity and pleasure in pain on a whole new level for me.
All in all, a wonderful book full of magic and adventure and darkness. It had everything I wished for and more. Highly recommended both to Schwab fans and people who simply like Fantasy. I think everyone should give this book a chance.
aceinit's review against another edition
4.0
This review contains SPOILERS.
After falling hard for “Vicious,” one of my favorite books of 2014, I was very excited to hear about Schwab’s follow-up, “A Darker Shade of Magic."
I was immediately intrigued by the different Londons presented in this book, and by Kell and Holland, who are able to move between them as royal couriers from the various courts, and their respective secret agendas.
The story moves as a brisk pace, introducing three very different cities that all share the same name, and dropping hints about a not-so-long-ago fourth London that may come back to haunt them all. The descriptions of the cities and their inhabitants are bright with local color and intrigue. The characters are well-built and the kind you want to know more about almost as soon as you meet them.
Unfortunately, the novel leaves a few things unresolved, or at least shrouded in mystery, and they happened to be the things I most wanted to know about. Chief among them is Kell’s origin. Given the emphasis that is put on his not being a blood member of the royal family, I was hoping his own history would be addressed. As things stand, it serves to show that the royals of Red London are not quite as benevolent as they would seem, given. And there is also the small but significant fact that Schwab never comes right out and admits .
I am hoping what Schwab will return to these worlds again in the future, as I would definitely enjoy following Kell and Lila on future adventures.
After falling hard for “Vicious,” one of my favorite books of 2014, I was very excited to hear about Schwab’s follow-up, “A Darker Shade of Magic."
I was immediately intrigued by the different Londons presented in this book, and by Kell and Holland, who are able to move between them as royal couriers from the various courts, and their respective secret agendas.
The story moves as a brisk pace, introducing three very different cities that all share the same name, and dropping hints about a not-so-long-ago fourth London that may come back to haunt them all. The descriptions of the cities and their inhabitants are bright with local color and intrigue. The characters are well-built and the kind you want to know more about almost as soon as you meet them.
Unfortunately, the novel leaves a few things unresolved, or at least shrouded in mystery, and they happened to be the things I most wanted to know about. Chief among them is Kell’s origin. Given the emphasis that is put on his not being a blood member of the royal family, I was hoping his own history would be addressed. As things stand, it serves to show that the royals of Red London are not quite as benevolent as they would seem, given
Spoiler
Kell’s bitter confession to Lila that he is their possession, no matter how much he wants them to address them as familySpoiler
that Lila is an Antari herself. Nor do we ever learnSpoiler
what, if anything, is left of the mysterious and dangerous Black LondonI am hoping what Schwab will return to these worlds again in the future, as I would definitely enjoy following Kell and Lila on future adventures.
laraamtk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
blogthatbook's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book, or at least most of it, but I was spitting nails right at the end. Let me explain.
My enjoyment of A Darker Shade Of Magic didn't stem from the usual gubbins. The story, characters and the world, or worlds, were fine, but what really kept me reading was the pacing. Most novels you read these days seem to be in a competition to get to the point and by extension the end as quickly as possible. There's never any time spent just spending time.
I found this book to be quite different. Schwab apparently just decided to relax and meander through her story at a gloriously leisurely pace. I never felt like I was being rushed towards the action. In fact even the action held a kind of slow-motion to it. And I have to admit I loved what the writer was doing.
Unfortunately, my temper reached ballistic proportions as we approached the book's climax. All of a sudden, when our heroine was painted into a corner or three, everything became infuriatingly contrived. Every problem she faced, everything she needed, all the things she needed to happen, just suddenly fell in her favour. I don't know if Schwab just ran into writer's block or simply couldn't be bothered to put the effort in but over the course of just a few pages she managed to ruin the vibes of this book for me.
Ouch. That got a little more ranty than I intended. This really is a great book, it's just that five percent towards the end that brings it down.
My enjoyment of A Darker Shade Of Magic didn't stem from the usual gubbins. The story, characters and the world, or worlds, were fine, but what really kept me reading was the pacing. Most novels you read these days seem to be in a competition to get to the point and by extension the end as quickly as possible. There's never any time spent just spending time.
I found this book to be quite different. Schwab apparently just decided to relax and meander through her story at a gloriously leisurely pace. I never felt like I was being rushed towards the action. In fact even the action held a kind of slow-motion to it. And I have to admit I loved what the writer was doing.
Unfortunately, my temper reached ballistic proportions as we approached the book's climax. All of a sudden, when our heroine was painted into a corner or three, everything became infuriatingly contrived. Every problem she faced, everything she needed, all the things she needed to happen, just suddenly fell in her favour. I don't know if Schwab just ran into writer's block or simply couldn't be bothered to put the effort in but over the course of just a few pages she managed to ruin the vibes of this book for me.
Ouch. That got a little more ranty than I intended. This really is a great book, it's just that five percent towards the end that brings it down.
mustarastas's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
courtneyjx's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
An enjoyable read - enjoyed it much more after the 30% mark. I’d probably pick up the next one in the series but I’m not about to rush out and get it.
wannabeshakespeare's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this! The plot was fast-paced and fun, and the characters were very likable (and hateable, the Dane twins are forever on my shit list).
The magic system was unique and has a lot of potential. I’d really like to see it explored more in the other books. The ambiguity of the magic system is part of the reason this wasn’t a 5-star read for me, in addition to the action scenes being a bit clunky.
The magic system was unique and has a lot of potential. I’d really like to see it explored more in the other books. The ambiguity of the magic system is part of the reason this wasn’t a 5-star read for me, in addition to the action scenes being a bit clunky.